Jordan’s State Security Court has sentenced three men to death by hanging for a shooting at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak that killed nine people during a funeral on 23 October. The ruling was reported on 15 November.
The court convicted the men of terrorist acts, weapons offences, promoting the ideas of a terrorist organisation and conspiracy to commit terrorist acts, according to Jordan’s Petra news agency. The judgment is subject to automatic review by the Court of Cassation.
Suspects were arrested after a shootout
The defendants are two Jordanian brothers and their brother-in-law. They have not been publicly identified. Authorities said the men fled after the attack and were arrested three days later at an abandoned house in Karak governorate.
Security forces exchanged gunfire with the suspects, wounding all three. No security personnel were hurt in that encounter, according to the account released at the time.
The shooting took place at St George’s church in Hammoud while people were attending a Christian funeral. Video footage showed armed men approaching and firing at the church. The motive for targeting the building has not been publicly established.
Reuters also reported the death sentences. The ruling does not mean the men have exhausted the review process, as the case proceeds to the Court of Cassation.